Paige Sherwood's Spirodela experiment

Problem Scenario

Broad Question

Does the tank size effect the growth of spirodella?

Specific Question

What is the effect of the size of the tank on the growth rate of spirodella?

Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that in the larger tank the spirodella will grow faster

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable: Size of tank

Dependent Variable: Growth rate

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

Temperature, water source,amount of water, amount of sunlight

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

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General Plan

I am going to fill up three different sized tanks with water and start with one spirodella plant in each tank. Each week I will count how many plants are in each tank to determine which spirodella grows faster in which tank.

Potential Problems And Solutions

The plants could all die but then I can regrow them.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

Experimental Design

Number Of Trials: 1

Number Of Subjects In Each trial: 3

When data will be collected: once a week

Number of Observations: 4

Where will data be collected?: Kennett Middle School

Resources and Budget Table

Data Table

Time Line

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Background Research

Spirodela is an amazing species, there is so many interesting facts to share, but I have chosen three to tell. Spirodela does not grow well in chlorinated tap water, spirodela grows best in nice lake/pond water in the sun. Spirodela is a member of the Araceae family.

The plant Spirodela doesn't grow well in chlorinated tap water because the chemicals in the water can cause it to die. Spirodela is normally a plant that floats on top of the surface but when it is in tap water, its leaves start to die and they float to the bottom. That is why I used fresh lake water for my experiment so my plants wouldn't die!

Spirodela grows best in the sun because in the dark the plants don't get nutrients from the sun therefore they die. When they are in the sun they grow to be many, I put my experiment in the sun because they repopulate faster in the sun.

Spirodela is a member of the Araceae family along with the Lemna and many other species. These species are also commonly called duckweed. They are all floating plants.

These are some of the things I learned by completing my project, Spirodela doesn't grow well in chlorinated tap water. It grows best in lake/pond water in the sun, and Spirodela is a member of the Araceae family.

Reference

Detailed Procedure

1.Fill up three different sized tanks
2.one small, one medium, and one large
3.Start with one spirodella plant in each tank
4.Every week for 4 weeks count up how many plants are in each tank
5.Compare the number of plants in the different sized tanks to determine which grows fastest

Diagram

6Photo List

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Results

All Raw Data

Graphs

Photos

54

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Data Analysis

My data says that the medium cup had the most plants, the small one had the second most, and the large one had the least. which is an anomaly because I hypothesized that the large one would have the most

Conclusion

My conclusion is that my hypothesis was wrong because I said that the larger cup would have the highest number of individuals in the end, when really it was the medium sized cup that ended up with the most.

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Discussion

Benefit to Community and/or Science

Abstract